Mumbai: The Sensex opened on a promising note after an overnight sharp fall and later fluctuated irregularly during morning trading on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) today (Jan 30, 2004) on alternate bouts of buying and selling.

The BSE benchmark 30-share index opened firm at 5,841.21 as against yesterday's close of 5,802.75 and later moved erratically in a range between 5,854.29 and 5,789.78 before being quoted at 5,814.13 at 10.30 hrs (IST).

Attributing the overnight sharp slide in stocks to operators' squaring up on the last day of derivatives, brokers said investors have adopted wait and watch policy despite indications of more sops through vote-on-account to be held on February 3.

Key stocks like ACC, GACL, HLL, ICICI Bank, Infosys Tech, L&T, RIL, ONGC, Tisco and Zee Telefilms were quoted up on renewed buying support.

However, heavyweights like Tata Motor, SBI, ITC, HPCL, Dr Reddy's Lab, BHEL and Bajaj Auto showed marked falls.

Among the top gainers, Alstom Power were quoted up by 7.92 per cent, I-Gate by 4.80 per cent, SAIL by 3.63 per cent, IPCA Lab by 3.31 per cent, Finolex Ind by 2.96 per cent, P&G by 2.94 per cent, Videocon Int by 2.87 per cent, ACC by 2.77 per cent and Guj Gas by 2.73 per cent.

However, United Phosp, Titan, MIRC, Union Bank, I-Flex, Glaxo Con and HCL Tech were quoted substantially lower on fresh selling.